The pols need to study history. If they did they’d realize that all prohibition does is make thugs rich, and corrupt the police.
They know their history, they don’t want prohibition, they just want to make it look like they do. What it really is, is giant tobacco oligopoly manipulates government to squash competition for them, no matter how small and insignificant. I suspect some anti-tobacco zealotry that witchhunts little things like bidis is funded by the tobacco tycoons. Control the message.
@Carol & Xander I agree with both of you, actually. If you’ve ever seen the film “Beer Wars”, it definitely looks like the expected underhanded corporate tactics are being played out here. Phillip Morris/Altria/Whatever they’re calling themselves this month were behind the PACT act. The fact that government let themselves be manipulated in this fashion proves that they’re not quite up on things.